Ground thawing hose cleaning reel guide assembly

Abstract

A ground thawing hose cleaning reel guide assembly cleans a ground thawing hose as the hose is reeled back onto a reel within a vehicle. The assembly includes a hose guide coupled to a frame such that the hose guide is movable between opposite ends of the frame. The hose guide has an interior edge defining an aperture extending through the hose guide. A sheet is coupled to the hose guide extending over the aperture. A channel extends into the sheet. The channel is configured to receive a hose within the channel whereby the sheet is configured to scrape debris from the hose as the hose is moved through the hose guide.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hose cleaning reel attachment assembly comprising:
 a frame; 
 a hose guide coupled to said frame such that said hose guide is movable between opposite ends of said frame, said hose guide having an interior edge defining an aperture extending through said hose guide; 
 a sheet coupled to said hose guide, said sheet extending over said aperture; and 
 a channel extending into said sheet, said channel being configured to receive a hose within said channel whereby said sheet is configured to scrape debris from the hose as the hose is moved through the hose guide; 
 a pivot arm having a first end and a second end, said second end being pivotally coupled to said frame, said hose guide being coupled to said first end wherein said hose guide is movable back and forth between said opposite ends of said frame to facilitate rolling the hose evenly onto a reel as the hose passes through said hose guide; and 
 a plurality of smoothly arcuate surfaces extending from said hose guide proximate to said aperture wherein each of said smoothly arcuate surfaces is configured to facilitate passing the hose through said aperture, said plurality of smoothly arcuate surfaces being arranged into a U shape extending around said aperture, an open end of said U shape being directed towards said pivot arm. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising said second end of said pivot arm being coupled to a middle of said frame. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising said frame having a base bar, a pair of lateral sides, each of said lateral sides being coupled to and extending from a respective end of said base bar, said frame having a pair of top bars coupled to and extending between said lateral sides, said top bars being parallel and spaced to define a slot between said top bars, said slot being vertically aligned with said base bar, said pivot arm extending through said slot. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising said hose guide having a pivot section pivotally coupled to a fixed section, said fixed section being fixedly coupled to said first end of said pivot arm, said pivot section being pivotable between an open position and a closed position, said pivot section and said fixed section overlapping in said closed position to define said interior edge and said aperture, said pivot section and said fixed section defining an opening into said aperture when in said open position wherein said pivot section is configured for being pivoted into said open position to permit insertion of the hose into said aperture. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a handle coupled to and extending from said hose guide, said handle having a first section coupled to and extending from said fixed section of said hose guide, said handle having a second section coupled to and extending from said pivot section, said first section of said handle being aligned with said second section of said handle when said pivot section is in said closed position. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to and extending from said hose guide. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of feet, each of said feet being coupled to and extending from said frame wherein said feet support said frame in an upright position. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising each of said feet having a respective proximal end coupled to said frame and extending perpendicularly from a respective base of an associated one of a pair of lateral sides of said frame wherein said feet are configured for extending towards a reel mounted within a vehicle such that said frame is positionable between the reel and an opening into the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. A hose cleaning reel attachment assembly comprising:
 a frame; 
 a hose guide coupled to said frame such that said hose guide is movable between opposite ends of said frame, said hose guide having an interior edge defining an aperture extending through said hose guide; 
 a sheet coupled to said hose guide, said sheet extending over said aperture; 
 a channel extending into said sheet, said channel being configured to receive a hose within said channel whereby said sheet is configured to scrape debris from the hose as the hose is moved through the hose guide; 
 a pair of feet, each of said feet being coupled to and extending from said frame wherein said feet support said frame in an upright position, each of said feet having a respective proximal end coupled to said frame and extending perpendicularly from a respective base of an associated one of a pair of lateral sides of said frame wherein said feet are configured for extending towards a reel mounted within a vehicle such that said frame is positionable between the reel and an opening into the vehicle, each of said feet having a hole extending therethrough wherein each of said feet is configured to be fastened into a fixed position in the vehicle; and 
 said frame being pivotable relative to said feet wherein said frame is configured for being pivoted outwardly from the vehicle positioning said hose guide laterally spaced outside of the vehicle whereby debris contacting said sheet and said hose guide is urged to fall away from the hose outside of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. A hose cleaning reel attachment assembly comprising:
 a frame, said frame having a base bar, a pair of lateral sides, each of said lateral sides being coupled to and extending from a respective end of said base bar, said frame having a pair of top bars coupled to and extending between said lateral sides, said top bars being parallel and spaced to define a slot between said top bars, said slot being vertically aligned with said base bar; 
 a pivot arm having a first end and a second end, said second end being pivotally coupled to said frame, said second end of said pivot arm being coupled to a middle of said frame, a hose guide being coupled to said first end, said pivot arm extending through said slot; 
 said hose guide coupled to said frame such that said hose guide is movable between opposite ends of said frame, said hose guide having an interior edge defining an aperture extending through said hose guide, said hose guide having a pivot section pivotally coupled to a fixed section, said fixed section being fixedly coupled to said first end of said pivot arm, said pivot section being pivotable between an open position and a closed position, said pivot section and said fixed section overlapping in said closed position to define said interior edge and said aperture, said pivot section and said fixed section defining an opening into said aperture when in said open position wherein said pivot section is configured for being pivoted into said open position to permit insertion of a hose into said aperture; 
 a sheet coupled to said hose guide, said sheet extending over said aperture; and 
 a channel extending into said sheet, said channel being configured to receive the hose within said channel whereby said sheet is configured to scrape debris from the hose as the hose is moved through the hose guide; 
 a handle coupled to and extending from said hose guide, said handle having a first section coupled to and extending from said fixed section of said hose guide, said handle having a second section coupled to and extending from said pivot section, said first section of said handle being aligned with said second section of said handle when said pivot section is in said closed position; 
 a pair of feet, each of said feet being coupled to and extending from said frame wherein said feet support said frame in an upright position, each of said feet having a respective proximal end coupled to said frame and extending perpendicularly from a respective base of an associated one of said lateral sides of said frame wherein said feet are configured for extending towards a reel mounted within a vehicle such that said frame is positionable between the reel and an opening into the vehicle, each of said feet having a hole extending therethrough wherein each of said feet is configured to be fastened into a fixed position in the vehicle; and 
 said frame being pivotable relative to said feet wherein said frame is configured for being pivoted outwardly from the vehicle positioning said hose guide laterally spaced outside of the vehicle whereby debris contacting said sheet and said hose guide is urged to fall away from the hose outside of the vehicle; and 
 a plurality of rollers, each of said rollers being coupled to said hose guide proximate to said aperture wherein each of said rollers is configured to facilitate passing the hose through said aperture, said plurality of rollers being arranged into a U shape extending around said aperture, an open end of said U shape being directed towards said pivot arm.